Since his class change to Spirit Master, Jiang Yuan had spent the following day or two constantly seeking out the Overlord Dragon Emperor and One Blade Breaks Ten Thousand Laws, ambushing and killing them whenever they were on missions. Unfortunately, after being thoroughly beaten by Jiang Yuan, the two had learned their lesson and kept avatar items on them at all times, avoiding experience loss from death.
In the demon realm at this time, since Blood Shadow Demon Lord ascended the throne, the city of Wujian had been renamed "Blood Capital," serving as the capital of the Blood Demon Empire. Right now, on the grand plaza of Blood Capital, millions of demon troops were assembled, standing in orderly ranks, awaiting the inspection of their new emperor, Blood Shadow Demon Emperor.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
As the crowned Blood Shadow Demon Emperor slowly appeared, the plaza erupted with thunderous cheers.
"Your Majesty, the army is fully assembled and ready to attack the Celestial Realm at any moment. Please begin the inspection!"
Heaven Demon King Han Xiaotian bowed respectfully to the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, his demeanor notably deferential. After these past few months, he had gradually come to accept the reality of the shift in power within the demon realm.
"Heaven Demon King, Corpse Demon King, and Slaughter Demon King, you have all worked hard drilling the troops during this time!"
The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor rose and flew into midair, his gaze sweeping over the one million newly recruited demon soldiers below. Looking down at the three former overlords of the demon realm, he spoke with satisfaction.
"We are willing to serve Your Majesty with utmost loyalty!"
The three demon kings bowed in unison to the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor above, speaking in one voice.
"Fellow warriors of the demon realm, follow me to crush the Celestial Realm!"
The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor raised his arm in a rallying cry, and the troops below responded in perfect unison: "Crush the Celestial Realm!"
Under the leadership of the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, the million-strong demon army marched out of the demon realm in a grand procession, heading toward the Celestial Realm.
In the Celestial Realm, at the Lingxiao Palace.
"Report! Your Majesty, it's bad! The garrison commander of Yimu City reports the discovery of a massive demon army, numbering in the millions!"
Hearing the scout's report, the Jade Emperor remained calm and immediately began deploying troops.
"Yang Jian, Nezha, hear my command! Each of you take 500,000 heavenly soldiers and head to the front!"
Just as Erlang Shen Yang Jian and the Third Lotus Prince Nezha stepped forward to accept the order, another panicked voice rang out from outside the hall.
"Report! Your Majesty, the three border cities have all fallen! The three marshals, Zhao, Ma, and Guan, are retreating to Lihuo City, barely holding on. They beg for immediate reinforcements!"
"What? So fast?"
Hearing the scout's news, the Jade Emperor found it hard to believe. Only half an hour had passed, and Yimu City, Gengjin City, and Kuishui City had all fallen—the speed was astonishing!
"Yang Jian, Nezha, go at once!"
The Jade Emperor addressed the two, then fell into deep thought. At present, the True Martial Demon-Suppressing Great Emperor was in seclusion recovering and had yet to emerge. The Celestial Realm had few emperor-level powerhouses left capable of fighting. Could he, the Jade Emperor, really have to lead the campaign personally?
Meanwhile, Erlang Shen Yang Jian and the Third Lotus Prince Nezha, following orders, led their troops out of the Southern Heavenly Gate, heading straight for Lihuo City. But halfway there, they encountered the routed three marshals, Zhao, Ma, and Guan.
"Why are you three generals in such disarray?"
Erlang Shen Yang Jian, holding the Celestial Hound in one hand and his three-pointed double-edged blade in the other, looked at the panicked Marshal Zhao Gongming and asked.
"Your Excellency Erlang Zhenjun, the demons are too powerful! We simply cannot withstand them!"
Zhao Gongming was covered in wounds, his face filled with terror as he addressed Erlang Shen.
"Your Excellency, you may not know this, but the demons have a fearsome fiend who can instantly drain others' vital essence. It's incredibly sinister and terrifying. None of us could stand against that fiend!"
After Zhao Gongming finished, Guan Yu nodded, speaking with a fearful expression.
"What fiend is so sinister? I'll go and face him myself!"
Erlang Shen, skeptical of the marshals' exaggerated descriptions, immediately led his 500,000 troops, speeding toward Lihuo City.
"Brother Yang Jian, wait for me!"
Nezha, never one to shy from a fight, quickly followed with his own 500,000 troops, chasing after Yang Jian.
They hadn't gone far before they encountered the pursuing demon army head-on. The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, clad in an imperial robe and wearing a flat-topped crown, turned to the Heaven Demon King Han Xiaotian and asked, "Who are those coming toward us?"
"Your Majesty, the one with three eyes is Erlang Shen Yang Jian, the Manifest Saint of the Celestial Realm. The child on the fire wheels is the Third Lotus Prince Nezha. Both are at the True Immortal level."
Heaven Demon King Han Xiaotian replied respectfully.
"Mere True Immortals, nothing to worry about!"
The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor sneered dismissively, shaking his head, then flew out directly to face Yang Jian and Nezha.
"Do you two little True Immortals dare to block my path?"
In three months, the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor had successfully refined the Western Demon Emperor's primordial spirit, breaking through from a ninth-rank demon general to the Demon Lord realm. Looking at the two True Immortals before him, he spoke with utter contempt.
"You fiend, such arrogance! Let me deal with you!"
Erlang Shen Yang Jian roared at the Blood Shadow Demon Lord, thrusting his three-pointed double-edged blade forward.
"Blood Shadow Devours the Heavens!"
The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor transformed into billions of blood-red divine lights, all surging toward Erlang Shen Yang Jian.
"Divine Light Protect the Body!"
Seeing this, Erlang Shen Yang Jian shouted, and a vast azure light radiated from his body, forming a cyan shield that firmly encased him.
"Sizzle, sizzle!"
Countless blood-red divine lights struck Yang Jian's cyan body, producing a burning sound as they continuously corroded his azure shield. Within a few breaths, the shield shattered under the assault of billions of blood-red lights, forcing Yang Jian to roar and unleash the divine ability of Heaven and Earth Transformation, turning himself into a ten-zhang-tall giant.
"Blood God Avatar!"
Seeing Yang Jian's transformation, the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor sneered. The billions of blood lights converged into one, also forming a colossal being, clashing with Erlang Shen's giant form.
Though Erlang Shen Yang Jian was only at the True Immortal level, he cultivated the path of physical sanctity, ranking among the top ten in combat power across the Celestial Realm. Yet, in Nezha's eyes, Erlang Shen seemed to be on the defensive the entire time, struggling greatly.
"What rich vital essence! It tastes absolutely wonderful!"
The Blood Shadow Demon Emperor, in his Blood God giant form, attacked while absorbing Yang Jian's blood energy, licking his lips with an expression of pure ecstasy.
"Brother Yang Jian, I'll help you!"
Seeing Yang Jian at a disadvantage, Nezha immediately manifested his three heads and six arms, stepping on his Wind Fire Wheels to charge in, turning the fight into a two-on-one.
"The child's body is just an empty shell—not tasty at all!"
Slapping Nezha and sending him flying, the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor sensed no blood energy from Nezha and frowned in confusion. He didn't know that Nezha's body was formed from half a primordial lotus root; his original flesh-and-blood body had been destroyed when he cut off his flesh to return to his father and his bones to his mother. Only a sliver of true spirit remained, entered into the Fengshen Bang, making him immortal and indestructible.
Yang Jian and Nezha fought side by side, two against one, yet they could not overcome the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor. After dozens of exchanges, both were exhausted and were defeated by the Blood God form of the Blood Shadow Demon Emperor.